For Randy Fagin, M.D., chief quality officer at HCA Healthcare, safety is foundational. “You cannot achieve regulatory compliance without a foundation of safety. Absent safety, your clinical outcomes cannot be what they need to be, ” he said in a recent two-part Advancing Health podcast hosted by Chris DeRienzo, M.D., chief physician executive for the American Hospital Association.

This philosophy positions safety as a linchpin for compliance, financial performance, clinical outcomes and reputation — making it a top priority for hospital boards and C-suites alike.